Self-awareness following a brain injury in childhood : a developmental perspective

Impaired self-awareness is a common consequence following a brain injury in adults, particularly when the brain injury is moderate or severe. Impaired self-awareness affects engagement in rehabilitation and results in poor long term functional outcomes. There is a paucity of literature regarding self-awareness following a brain injury in childhood. Consequently, little is known about the differences between children and adults in the domain of self-awareness following brain injury. Children and young people are at different stages of development when their injury occurs and this study investigates the impact of the brain injury on the development of self-awareness. The aim of this research study is to gather quantitative and qualitative longitudinal data from children and young people who have experienced a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury in order to understand their level of self-awareness. This study used a longitudinal multiple case study design with mixed methodology. Fifteen children and young people with a moderate/severe traumatic brain injury were recruited and data were collected from the children and young people, their parents and their teacher over an eighteen month period. The results show that children and young people have an interruption to the development of self-awareness following a traumatic brain injury. Impaired self-awareness is not chronic in this group and they continue to make developmental gains in time. This study adds to our understanding of the interruption of self-awareness development following a brain injury in childhood. Occupational therapists have a particular role to play while engaging with children and young people in the everyday context of their lives, which is supportive of greater self-awareness. As children and young people become more able to assess their own performance, they may be in a better position to set realistic rehabilitation goals. Implications for future clinical and academic children’s neurorehabilitation are outlined

The information gap for children and young people with acquired brain injury

© 2019 The Author(s). Statement of Purpose This study explored the information requirements of children/youth with an acquired brain injury. Methods An on-line survey (n=16), focus group (n=5) and in-depth semi-structured interviews (n=3) elicited the views of 24 children/youth with ABI. A priori thematic coding was used to analyse the data. Results Five themes emerged: stage and age, school, friendship and peers, delivery methods and information content. The desired information changes over time depending on age and time since injury. Children/youth want their friends and teachers to access information on brain injury. Children/youth want information delivered through a range of channels, including videos (featuring genuine case studies), apps and board games. Children/youth wanted information specific to their injury, information on brain injury more generally, and practical strategies for overcoming problems. Conclusions Children/youth with ABI were able to express views about their information needs, which change over time and include a range of channels

How an occupational therapist should conceptualise self-awareness following traumatic brain injury in childhood — a literature review

Introduction: The development of self-awareness across childhood is a complex and protracted phenomenon. Little is known about the consequences of an interruption to development as a result of a traumatic brain injury in childhood. The aim of this paper was to review the available literature on self-awareness in children following a traumatic brain injury and relate the findings to occupational therapy practice with this group of children and young people. Method: A comprehensive search of the current literature relating to self-awareness following a traumatic brain injury. Findings: A small amount of theoretical and qualitative literature was sourced and critically appraised using appropriate tools. Although only nine relevant papers were identified, those that were evaluated were found to be of a high quality. The findings were supplemented with additional material from developmental psychology and adult brain injury literature. Conclusion: Occupational therapists are encouraged to conceptualise self-awareness in childhood traumatic brain injury within a developmental context. A fuller understanding of self-awareness in childhood and the consequences of an interruption to its development will help to establish age-appropriate interventions

Expanding learning in the workplace Making more of individual and orgnaisational potential

Includes bibliographical referencesAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:m03/30613 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Paediatric Rehabilitation Ingredients Measure: a new tool for identifying paediatric neurorehabilitation content

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Forsyth, R., Young, D., Kelly, G., Davis, K., Dunford, C., Golightly, A., Marshall, L. and Wales, L. (2018), Paediatric Rehabilitation Ingredients Measure: a new tool for identifying paediatric neurorehabilitation content. Dev Med Child Neurol, 60: 299-305. , which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.13648. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme Development Grant scheme. Grant Number: RP‐DG‐0613‐1000

The Idea of Home in Law

The idea of ‘home’ is problematic for lawyers. Although the significance of home sometimes appears to be acknowledged in legal discourse, the proposition that home can encapsulate meanings beyond the physical stricture of the house or its capital value continues to present conceptual difficulties for lawyers. Starting from the reference to ‘respect for home’ in the European Convention on Human Rights, this article considers why courts are reluctant to give effect to any recognition of the non-financial values of home, with the result that the financial claims of secured creditors and landlords overwhelmingly prevail over the ‘home’ interests of occupiers. These issues are considered in the context of law’s preference for rationality and objectively definable, ‘provable’ interests. The article suggests, however, that the idea of home in law is not unworkable, but rather underdeveloped. A number of ad hoc examples are presented as evidence of law’s capacity to recognise ideas linked to home in order to further particular policy aims, so long as this does not run counter to the overarching goals of the system. Finally, the article evaluates avenues through which lawyers could engage productively with home theorists in other disciplines to develop a more coherent legal concept of home